Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 698,722. I Y Patented A r. 29, m2.

' .r. H. mznmu. & F. HICKMAN.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed J an. 1902.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shut l.

J 1 -14 $M a'nuembozd m: wonms PETERs co. vuomuma, WASHINGYON, u c.

Patented Apr. 29, i902.

F. H; MERRILL 81. F. HICKMAN. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR (Application filed Jan. 2, 1902.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets$heet 2.

Tn: NORRIS PEI'ERS co. worc umon wAsumsTo. n. c

Patented Apr. 29, I902.

3 Sheets-Sheet- S.

/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIII Yaw F. H: MERRILL &. F. HICKMAN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Applicatiqn filed- Jan. 2, 1902.)

@513 M alien 1e13 (No Model.)

In: NDnms PETERS co.. momumou WASHINGTON, n. cy

F. 6 W" A.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

' FRANK II. MERRILL, OF PLAINFIELD, AND FRANCIS IIIOKMAN, OF BOUND- BROOK, NEW JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-G A S GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATIQN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 698,722, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed January 2, 1902. .Serial No. 88,167. (No model.)

To all whom it may c0ncern:

Be it known that we, FRANK II. MERRILL, of Plainfield, Union county, and FRANCIS HICKMAN, of Boundbrook, Somerset county, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators; and it consists in the features of construction hereinafter sp'ecifically described and claimed.

Acetylene-generators are usually designed to be placed in the cellar or basement of the building to be lighted. Such machines are necessarily limited incarbid capacity. They require frequent attention in recharging, re-

moving the residue, washing out, and renewing the water, and there is more or less escape of gas. In case of accidental damage to the apparatus-such as freezing, rusting out,

breakage, flooding of cellars, or other unforeseen causes-sufficient gas may be liberated to be ignited by the furnace of the heating plant or otherwise, resulting disastrously.

Our invention is designed particularly to provide a construction whereby the apparatus is adapted to be placed in a cistern entirely outside of the building to be lighted. A large carbid capacity is obtained, and the disposal 30 of residue and supply of water automatically. effected, thereby dispensing with frequent attention, eliminating possible accidents and annoyance from escaping gas. The mechanism is also simplified, as the cistern forms the lower portion of the apparatus and a receptacle for the residue. The water-level is automatically maintained in the cistern by a float-actuated valve, whereby the consumption of water is greatly economized. The

apparatus beingimmersed in a comparatively large body of water there is no heating dur-- ing generation. As the water-level is necessarily maintained below the line of'frost, the carbid-holder is elongated toreach above the surface, the carbid contained in same being non-freezing. Greater carbid capacity and convenience in refilling are thus obtained.

In the drawings forming part of the specification, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the apparatus shown in position in the cistern,

'for the same.

taken from points at right angles to each other, the walls of the cistern being shown in section; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus removed from the cistern.

In the drawings, A represents the cistern, designed to be partially filled with water, as shown, into which the lower part of the generating apparatus is submerged. This apparatus belongs to the class in which an excess of water is used-that is, the water of the cistern entering the lower part of the generator receives the carbid as it is dropped to furnish the required supply of gas, the feeding of the carbid being automatically regulated by the rising and falling of the gasometer-bell.

The generating-chamber and the gasometer are both'mounted upon a hollow base or bell B, the gasonieter being of the usual form and consisting of a water-tank O and a bell E, which fits within the water-tank, so that it may freely rise and fall therein, the water forming a seal to prevent the escape of gas.

Upon the upper part of the bell B is the conical projection 3, which extends upward into the bell E and has openings or vents 4, through which gas can freely pass from the 10911 B into the bell E. The object in making the projection 3 in the form of a hollow cone is to narrow the space between it and the walls of-the tank 0 to reduce the amount of water required for the water seal.

The generating-chamber comprises a cylinder with double walls F and G, the space between the walls constituting a water-tank into which the bellH of the carbid-holder J fits, the water in the tank serving as the seal The carbid-holder J is removable from the apparatus, and consists of a cylindrical portion 5, extending downward into the generatingchamber, having a conical lower end 6, provided with a central dischargeopeniug. At the top of the cylindrical por-' tion 5 is an annular ring 7, connecting the part 5 with the bell H and serving as a support for the carbid-holder upon the wall F. The upper or larger portion Set the carbidholder is provided with a head 9, having a central opening 10, through which the carbid is supplied to it, this being closed by means Ice of a cap or seal 11, held in place by means of a screw 12, threaded into the conical cap 13, which has a screw-thread connection with the head 9 of the holder. The holder is surmounted by a conical open head or cover 14.

To provide for the automatic feeding of the carbid from the holder into the water ofvthe cistern within the bell B, we provide a hanger or bracket K, depending from the upper Wall of the bell B, to which is pivoted a bellcrank lever L, the upper arm 16 of which in operation trips the swinging valve 17, covering the opening of the carbid-holder, so as to permit the flow of carbid therefrom. The lower arm 18 of the bell-crank lever is connected by means of a link 19 with the lever 20. This lever has pivotal support upon the rod 21, which extends upward through the bracket, and has an adjustable screw connection 22 with the cap 14, whereby the position of the lever may be adjusted at will. The lever 20 carries a weight 23, which tends to depress the end of the lever connection with the bell-crank lever L, the downward motion of the lever, however, beinglimited by means of a stop 24. The power end of the lever 20 is provided with a rod 25, which extends upward from the cone 3, projecting into the bell E to such a distance that as the bell E descends its head 26 will strike the end of the rod 25, depressing the lever 20, operating the bell-crank lever L to actuate the bell 17 and discharge the carbid from its holder.

In order to prevent the dropping of the car- :bid through the bellB into the cistern, whereby gas generated therefrom could pass out of the cistern around the bell B, we provide a grating 27 underneath the carbid-holder and mounted upon the lever 28, which has pivotal support at 29 upon the bell B. This lever is turned by means of a rod 30, extending upward into convenient position above the apparatus, the grating being held normally in horizontal position, as shown in Fig.

prevents pieces of carbid from falling to the' bottom of the cistern, whence the gas would escape to'the outer air and be wasted. As

the carbid contains some'pieces which are unslakable, the retarding device can be dumped by the hand-rod 30. The counterweight 31 normally holds the retarder closed, thus preventing careless or unskilled persons from leaving the retarder in open or dumping position.

Itis obvious thatifthe carbid wereexhausted'and the gasometer in the lowest position the swinging carbid-feed valve would be full Open. In this condition the renewal of carbid would be accompanied with great danger and waste, as the carbid would flow through the feed-valve into the gas-generatingchamber, causing a rapid generation of gas,which would escape through the filling-cap on top of the carbid-holder. To prevent the possibility of such an occurrence, the hood 14 is provided to cover the caps 11 and 13 and engage the screw 22, which with the rod 21 controls the mechanism which actuates the carbid-feed valve. It is so arranged that the hood 14 cannot be removed without closing the'carbid feed valve. After the removal of the hood 14 the cap or seal 11 can be opened. The hood their forms a convenient filling-funnel in reversed position. After filling the carbidholder, the caps 11 and 13 and the hood 14 are replaced, the latter beinge'ngaged with the screw 22, which can be actuated to open'the carbid-feed valve 17 very slowly, preventing an excess of carbid to flow into the generating-chamber before the gasometer rises and permits the feed-valve to close.

The operation of the apparatus canbe readily understood from the drawings :and foregoing'description. The cistern being supplied with the requisite quantity of water, the carbid-chamber is filled. The bell E'bei'ng at bottom position, the rod is depressed and, through the connected mechanism,wonld trip the valve 17 and permit the floW-of'carbid into the water in the bell B were not the mech anism supported upon the rod 21, which in lowered position prevents such action, as above described. When the caps 11 and 13 and hood 14 are restored toplace, the screw 2 is actuated to gradually lift the valve-operating mechanismand permit gradual flow of carbid into the generating-chamber. As the carbid sinks into the water its escape from the bell is prevented by the grating 27 ,upon which it rests,- gradually-cruinbling as acted upon by the water and falling through the grating. Any excess accumulations or unslaked portions can be quickly dumped by operating the rod 30, the inert material-sinking to the bottom of the cistern. 35 is the gas-pipe by means of which gas is conveyed from the apparatus to the'point of consumption. The branch pipe 36 has its open end beneath the surface of the water in the cistern a sufficient distance to prevent escape of gas under usual pressure, but permitting escape when the apparatus is filled and excess gas continues to be generated. Meanwhile the gas fills the apparatusab'ove the water and flows throughthe hollow cone 3 into the bell E, lifting the same and releasing the rod 25, whereupon the weight 23 in falling releases the valve 17, allowing it to close' and cut off the flow of carbid from theholder. Escape of gas from the apparatus except through the pipe 35 is prevented by the water seals in thetanks O and G, the branch pipe 36 serving as a safety-vent for excess gas. As the contents of the apparatus are drawn 01f in use the bell E gradually falls until it again actuates the rod 25, when, in the IOG manner above described, carbid is again allowed to flow into the water and gas is generated therefrom to replenish the supply.

We claim- I 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an inverted bell common to generator and gasometer, a water-cistern for receiving said bell, and means controlled by the position of the gasometer for automatically delivering carbid into said bell, of means for receiving and suspending such carbid within said bell and for discharging the sludge therefrom into said cistern.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elongated carbidholder, a carbid-feeder, a gas generating chamber and a gasometer, of a water-cistern, having means for automatically maintaining a predetermined level of water therein, means controlled by said gasometer for automatic-.

ally delivering carbid into said generatingchamber, and means for receiving and holdbeing slaked, andfor discharging the residue thereof into the cistern.

Signed at Boundbrook, New Jersey, this 10th day of December, 1901.

' FRANK H. MERRILL.

FRANCIS HLCKMAN. lVitnesses:

M. W. BAXTER, W. H. WEARL. 

